The ECOWAS regional called on Mali’s new military government to seize power last month to nominate a civilian to head a transitional government by September 15. The 15-nation West African States Economic Community (ECOWAS) slapped sanctions on Mali after the coup d’etat of August 18, including closing borders and prohibiting trade, and called for elections within 12 months. A long, military-led transition back to civilian rule has been proposed by the military government, but ECOWAS commission chief Jean-Claude Kassi Brou has insisted on being led by a civilian president and prime minister for a 12-month term.
It was not clear what kind of leverage ECOWAS has over the military rulers to force the deadline of September 15, but the grouping could keep sanctions in place while monitoring the consultations between the military government and various factions in Mali. Last week, during an extraordinary ECOWAS summit on Mali, Issoufou indicated that sanctions would be “gradually lifted depending on the implementation” of measures that would allow a return to civilian rule. Eight heads of state attended the summit on Monday, including Senegalese President Macky Sall, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
Mali has long been plagued by instability, armed conflict, ethnic violence and endemic corruption with widespread unrest until President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was detained last month by a clique of rebel soldiers. After increasing pressure from neighbouring countries over fears of even more instability in the war-torn nation, the military government held weekend talks with opposition groups on its promise to hand power back to civilians. International powers fear that the continuing political upheaval will further destabilise Mali and undermine a joint fight against armed groups in the wider Sahel.